Los Angeles, Thursday

Chris Paul scored a team  high 28 points as the Phoenix Suns escaped Philadelphia with a 116-113 NBA win on Wednesday after Joel Embiid’s 85-foot desperation heave at the buzzer rattled off the rim.

The Suns would need all of Paul’s points and eight assists, including his final free throw because Embiid’s one-handed toss — almost the full length of the court — hit the backboard then bounced off the front and the back of the rim  before falling away as time expired.

“When I threw it, it looked good,” Embiid said.

Shooting guard Devin Booker added 19 points as he and point guard Paul have combined to become the best backcourt in the NBA this season, giving the Suns the right mix of youth and experience to make a deep run through the postseason.

Phoenix improved to 42-16 on the season and are in second place in the Western Conference.

The Sixers lost consecutive home games for the first time this season but it came as no huge surprise as they were missing three of their starters Ben Simmons (illness), Tobias Harris (knee) and Seth Curry (hip).

“I know we got a lot of guys out, but we still want to win the game,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said.

The Suns on the other hand have been the best road team in the league, steamrolling their way through opponents by winning six  of their last seven games on the road.

Mikal Bridges had 18, Cameron Johnson contributed 15 points and DeAndre Ayton tallied 10 for the Suns.

Embiid led the Sixers with 38 points and 17 rebounds. Danny Green scored 18 points, Tyrese Maxey added 14, Furkan Korkmaz put up 12 and George Hill had 11. 

Booker’s long jumper with just over two minutes left gave the Suns a 109-101 lead, but a three by Korkmaz with two seconds left cut the deficit to two. Paul made one of two free throws with 0.8 seconds left for a 116-113 lead.  – AFP